Sectionalized artificial tree structure with integral branch and collar combinations

ABSTRACT

A sectionalized artificial tree structure is provided which is intended, for example, to simulate a Christmas tree, and which is constructed of an appropriate pliant plastic material so that its component parts may be fabricated on a mass production low-cost basis; and in which the individual component parts include integral branch and collar combinations which may be conveniently collapsed for shipping and storing purposes.

United States Patent Inventor William A. Kershner Azuza, Calif. Appl. No. 808,915 Filed Mar. 20, 1969 Patented Oct. 26, 1971 Assignee I-IPE Inc.

Colton, Calif.

SECTIONALIZED ARTIFICIAL TREE STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRAL BRANCH AND COLLAR COMBINATIONS 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 161/24, 47/47, 161/27 Int. Cl A47g 33/04 Field of Search 161/14, 22,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,115,435 12/1963 Abramson 161/24 3,159,523 12/1964 Abramson 161/24 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,124,384 8/1968 Great Britain 161/22 Primary Examiner-Philip Dier Attorney-Jessup & Beecher ABSTRACT: A sectionalized artificial tree structure is provided which is intended, for example, to simulate a Christmas tree, and which is constructed of an appropriate pliant plastic material so that its component parts may be fabricated on a mass production low-cost basis; and :in which the individual component parts include integral branch and collar combinations which may be conveniently collapsed for shipping and storing purposes.

PATENTED 25 I971 v 3,616,107

SHEET 2 [1F 2 ,4 may SECTIONALIZED ARTIFICIAL TREE STRUCTURE WITI-I INTEGRAL BRANCH AND COLLAR COMEINATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Artificial sectionalized tree structures are known, and such structures have been constructed of semirigid thermoplastic materials such as high-impact polystyrene or polyethylene. Such tree structures have been constructed in the past closely to simulate natural Christmas trees. The structures are advantageous in that their component parts may be massproduced by relatively low-cost known molding techniques. The thermoplastic materials used in the construction of such artificial trees provide the desirable qualities of strength and durability, and also provide structures which are fire resistant.

Artificial tree structures, such as described in the preceding paragraph, may be assembled and disassembled easily and rapidly, and may be stored away for repeated use. However, the usual prior art artificial sectionalized tree structure is somewhat awkward to store and ship clue to the excessive lengths, for example, of its branches, and especially the lower branches when the tree is intended to simulate a natural Christmas tree.

Although attempts have been made in the past to provide a collapsible feature to such sectionalized artificial tree structures, the resulting prior art arrangements, for the most part, have become unduly complicated and expensive. In the structure of the present invention, a pliant plastic material, such as polypropylene, is used to form the branches of the artificial tree, and the branches are affixed to the trunk by plastic rings which are fitted over polelike trunksections. The plastic rings and the branches are integral with one another, with the plastic material itself being used to form a living hinge," and the ring and branch combinations are constructed to permit the branches to be collapsed without introducing any complications into the structure itself.

The tree of the present invention is provided with a plurality of plastic trunk sections which may be fitted onto one another in coaxial relationship to form the central trunk for the tree. Each of the trunk sections has, for example, a pair of plastic rings fitted over it and spaced along its length. Each of the rings, in turn, supports, for example, four branches which are disposed around the axis of the trunk at 90 intervals. The branches are integral with their corresponding rings, and are hinged to the rings by the pliant nature of the plastic material itself, as mentioned above.

Each of the branches has a base section which is integral with the corresponding hinge, and the base section serves as a limit to permit the branches to be supported in generally horizontal positions. The tree may easily be disassembled, merely by pulling the trunk sections apart, and the various sections may be easily stored, merely by turning up the branches into generally vertical positions, as will be described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is concerned with an artificial tree structure which is formed of plastic material, such as polypropylene, and which comprises a plurality of polelike trunk sections. The trunk sections of the tree may be fitted onto one another in essentially coaxial relationship to form the trunk of the tree, and the trunk may be supported in a generally upright position on an appropriate base. A plurality of plastic rings are fitted onto the trunk sections, and these rings are spaced along the trunk. Each of the plastic rings, for example, has four plastic branches hinged to it by means of an integral plastic hinge, and an appropriate limit member is provided adjacent the ring for each of the branches, which permits the branches to be turned down to generally horizontal positions when the tree is in use, and to be collapsed upwardly to generally vertical positions when the tree is being stored or shipped. The plastic ringhinge-branches subassemblies may likewise be formed of polypropylene, or other suitable pliant plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a representation of a simulated artificial tree structure which incorporates the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows various branch-trunk section combinations of the tree of FIG. I, with the branches collapsed upwardly for convenient storing and shipping;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary representation of the ring or collar-hinge combination by which the branches are attached to the individual trunksections; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary representation similar to the representation of FIG. 3, and taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The artificial tree structure shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated with its various trunk sections displaced longitudinally from one another for purposes of explanation. It will be understood, of course, that when the tree is actually in use, the trunk sections are fitted onto one another in generally coaxial relationship, so as to form a polelike structure which constitutes the trunk of the tree.

The trunk sections are designated 10 in FIG. 1, and these may take the form of elongated tubular plastic members. Each trunk section, for example, includes a pin 10a at one end, and the pin is received frictionally in a socket at the lower end of the upper section. In this way, the trunk sections may be easily fitted onto one another in assembling the tree, and just as easily withdrawn from one another when the tree is being disassembled.

The lower trunk section I0 may be received in a usual base 12 which serves to support the tree in a generally upright position. The upper trunk section 10 may, for example, be equipped with sockets at both ends, so that a plastic upright branch 14 may be inserted at the top of the tree. The plastic branch 14, as well as the other branches to be described herein, aremade in accordance with known techniques of a pliant plastic material such as polypropylene and are shaped to simulate the branches and needles, for example, of a natural Christmas tree.

The main branches of the tree are supported on plastic rings or collars 16 which are fitted over the individual trunk sections, and which are spaced along the sections as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the collars or rings 16 has branches, such as the branches 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 hinged to it. As shown, for example, in FIG. 4, each of'the rings may have four branches integrally hinged to it, with the branches being disposed at right angles to one another about the longitudinal axis of the tree.

As will be described, the construction is such that when the trunk sections are fitted onto one another, the individual branches may be turned down, and are supported in a generally horizontal position, as shown in FIG. I. The section should be assembled so that the branches are successively shorter from the bottom to the top of the tree, when it is desired to simulate a typical natural Christmastree. For storing'or shipping purposes, the tree may be disassembled, and the individual branches turned up to the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 2. This greatly facilitates the storing and shipping of the tree.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, the branches, such as the branches 18 may be formed of the same plastic material as the ring 16, and the branches 18 may each include an integral base member 18a, for example, which is integral with the branch and with the collar 16. The bases 18a are joined to the collar by thin pliant plastic hinge portions 50, the integral hinge portions 50 constituting what is known as living hinges".

The base 18a, in each instance, is hinged to the corresponding collar 16 by its integral hinge 50 at. the upper edge of the base and collar when the corresponding branch is in a generally horizontal position, as shown by the left-hand branch in FIG. 3. In this position, the lower edge of the base 18a contacts the side of the collar 16 and functions as a stop member, so as to maintain the branches in their generally horizontal position. However, when the tree is dismounted, the branches may be turned up to the position shown by the right-hand branch in FIG. 3, and as shown in FIG. 2, so that the branches are collapsed into generally vertical positions.

As mentioned above, the branch base 18a and hinge 50 combination may be constructed of a pliant plastic material such as polypropylene, and this material is capable of withstanding repeated hinging action without showing any deterioration. Therefore, artificial trees constructed in accor'clance with the concepts of the present invention are not only suitable from a strength, durability and aesthetic standpoint, but also are capable of being used almost indefinitely.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial tree structure including at least one trunk section, and which includes the combination of a ring of pliant plastic material fitted on said trunk section, a plastic member simulating a branch for said artificial tree structure; and

means, including a hinge formed of said pliant plastic material, integral with said branch and said ring for coupling said branch to said ring, said means further includes a base member formed of plastic material and integral with said branch and said hinge, said base member engaging said ring as said branch is turned downwardly so as to limit the downward angular movement of said branch thereby to support said branch in a generally horizontal position.

2. In combination, a ring of pliant plastic material; a plastic member simulating a branch for an artificial tree structure; and means including a hinge formed of said pliant plastic material and integral with said branch and with said ring for coupling said branch to said ring, said means further includes a base member formed of plastic material and integral with said branch and with said hinge, said base member serving as a stop for said branch to limit the downward angular movement thereof so as to cause said branch to be supported in a generally horizontal position. 

2. In combination, a ring of pliant plastic material; a plastic member simulating a branch for an artificial tree structure; and means including a hinge formed of said pliant plastic material and integral with said branch and with said ring for coupling said branch to said ring, said means further includes a base member formed of plastic material and integral with said branch and with said hinge, said base member serving as a stop for said branch to limit the downward angular movement thereof so as to cause said branch to be supported in a generally horizontal position. 